Anders is SEC Player of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sophomore Kailey Anders was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week by the league when its weekly awards were announced Monday. Playing her first collegiate match as a defender, Anders aided the Razorback soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Michigan in the Aug. 21 season opener. In addition to helping Arkansas shutout its opponent, she scored the team’s first goal of the season. Anders is the second Razorback to earn weekly defensive honors in program history, and the first since Carrie Dillsaver captured the award twice in 2006."I am very excited for Kailey and the team today," head coach Erin Aubry said. "There is no doubt that Kailey deserves this award for her performance against Michigan; however, she will be the first to tell you that it was a total team effort. This award was made possible for Kailey because her team defended and attacked with great courage Friday night. Getting a shutout and a second goal made Kailey’s performance significant and impressionable. This is the environment where good players can be great because of the team around them. I am proud of all of them."

Transitioning from her position up top last season to the defensive backline, Anders helped limit Michigan to eight shots, five on goal that were all stopped by Arkansas’ goalkeepers, Britni Williams and Kendal Winston. Anders proved she is still dangerous offensively with the team’s first goal of the season, a 30-yard rocket, scored on a counter attack at the 36:13 mark. Dating back to last season, Anders has scored a goal in three consecutive matches.

The Razorbacks got their second goal from transfer Chelsea Tidwell in the 78th minute off a cross from fellow transfer Laurel Pastor. Arkansas outshot the Wolverines, 11-8, and totaled three corner kicks in the season opener. Through the first weekend of play, Anders and Tidwell are tied for third in the conference in scoring.

Arkansas makes its home debut by hosting the Razorback Adidas Classic beginning Aug. 28 with teams from Air Force, Austin Peay and Missouri State also in action. After the day’s first game, the Razorbacks will take the field at 7 p.m. to take on Air Force. For more information, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.